Yahoo - "US economy shows signs of vigor, but questions remain" (6-3-07)

"The latest economic data point to an acceleration in the US economy after the weakest growth in over four years, but some analysts say a full recovery is not yet in sight. Friday's Labor Department report showing a surprise gain of 157,000 jobs in May along with other robust data appeared to validate the view of the Federal Reserve that the world's biggest economy will gather steam over 2007, with strong consumer spending offsetting a slump in housing."

Orange County Register - "House prices falling from peak" (6-3-07)

"Fresh local housing statistics confirm what's been suspected: Prices are off their peaks and the top occurred sometime in the second half of last year. After nearly a decade of eye-popping profits, this pullback in overall Orange County home values should be no grand surprise. It might even be considered expected. But the market has surprised many watchers with just how fast it turned to what in most cases is the weakest pricing climate in a decade or more."

The Union-Tribune - "Who's to blame?" (6-3-07)

"There is plenty of blame to go around for the subprime mortgage meltdown that has reduced access to credit and sent lenders scrambling to tighten loose underwriting standards."

North County Times - "Home sales may be nearing bottom" (6-3-07)

"San Diego County's sluggish housing market is churning out single-family home sales at a pace barely above the low point of the recessionary 1990s, according to an analysis of regional statistics. At the height of the recent housing boom, about 4 percent of county homes were being sold every year. Today, a little more than half that are changing hands. And analysts say the market, when it comes to sales, is about to reach bottom in the current downturn."

Yahoo - "'Piggybacking' Roils Credit Industry" (6-3-07)

"Only a low credit score stood between Alipio Estruch and a mortgage to buy a $449,000 Spanish-style house in Weston, Fla., a few miles west of Fort Lauderdale. Instead of spending several years repairing his credit rating, which he said was marred by two forgotten cell phone bills and identity theft, the 37-year-old real estate agent paid $1,800 to an Internet-based company to bump up his score almost overnight."

Orange County Register - "Most won't tap home equity for retirement, poll says" (6-3-07)

"Pollsters from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College found that 72 percent of homeowners surveyed nationwide, ages 50 to 65, said 'No!' to the question "Are you planning to use any of your home equity to finance ordinary living expenses in retirement (such as food, clothing and travel)?" Only 6 percent said 'Yes!' and 22 percent were unsure. We asked visitors to the Lansner on Real Estate online blog if they planned (regardless of age) to tap into home equity in retirement."

Los Angeles Times - "Surprise, it's solar" (6-3-07)

"At first glance, Paul Rupert's Livermore, Calif., home looks like any other residence. But the 2,900-square-foot house has a powerful secret. Last year, Rupert installed a solar energy system that cut his monthly electricity and heating bill from $400 to $25. Rather than use traditional photovoltaic panels that mount to a rack and are sometimes considered unsightly, Rupert choose integrated solar roof tiles that interlock with his new concrete roof tiles and lie flat. 'Most people don't even notice that it's a solar roof,' said Rupert, 67, an aerospace systems engineer."